30 Year Itch
| 30 Year Itch | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 25 September 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 1:12:54 | |||
| Label | Round | |||
| Producer | Dave Draper | |||
| The Wildhearts chronology | ||||
| ||||
30 Year itch is a live album by British rock band The Wildhearts. Recorded during 2019 tours to promote Renaissance Men and Diagnosis, it was produced by Dave Draper and released by Round Records on 25 September 2020 (digital) and 4 December 2020 (physical). The album reached number 51 on the UK Albums Chart and registered on several other UK charts. A separate EP entitled 30 Year Itch Bonus Tracks was released free to people who pre-ordered the album.
Background[edit]
In promotion of the band's ninth studio album Renaissance Men, the Wildhearts embarked on a short UK tour starting on the day of its release, 3 May 2019.[1] After a string of shows and festival appearances across Europe and Japan in the summer,[2] the group toured the UK again on the Renaissance Men Tour Part II in October.[3] Ahead of the second part of the tour, the Wildhearts released the EP Diagnosis as a follow-up to Renaissance Men.[4]
30 Year Itch was recorded and produced by Dave Draper, who had previously worked on the Wildhearts' last live album, 2016's Never Outdrunk, Never Outsung: PHUQ Live.[5] The digital download version of the album was released on 25 September 2020; the physical version was delayed to the issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] It was eventually released on 4 December 2020.[6] People who pre-ordered the album were sent four extra live tracks called 30 Year Itch Bonus Tracks.[5]
Reception[edit]
Commercial[edit]
30 Year Itch was the Wildhearts' first live album to register on the main UK Albums Chart, reaching number 51.[7] It also reached number 24 on the Scottish Albums Chart, number 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, number 8 on the UK Independent Albums Chart, number 20 on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart, and number 33 on the UK Albums Sales and Physical Albums Charts.[7]
Critical[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock |   [8] |
30 Year Itch received positive reviews from critics. Writing for Classic Rock magazine, Essi Berelian described the album as "loud, atmospheric and buzzing with furious energy", and claimed that "the joyful racket of these 17 tracks is something to behold".[8] Similarly, MMH Radio writer Simon Kidd described 30 Year Itch as "an essential purchase", suggesting that "This is not only a truly great live record; it is absolutely the best live album of the past 20 years".[9] A review published by Get Ready to Rock! dubbed 30 Year Itch "a must play", with the author claiming that "you won't be disappointed, but it may leave you hankering to be in that crowd".[10]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Ginger Wildheart, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dislocated" | 5:56 | |
| 2. | "Everlone" | 6:23 | |
| 3. | "Suckerpunch" | 3:00 | |
| 4. | "Anthem" |
| 3:40 |
| 5. | "Diagnosis" | 5:42 | |
| 6. | "TV Tan" | 4:14 | |
| 7. | "The Jackson Whites" |
| 3:25 |
| 8. | "Let 'Em Go" | 4:11 | |
| 9. | "Vanilla Radio" | 3:07 | |
| 10. | "Urge" | 4:41 | |
| 11. | "Mazel Tov Cocktail" |
| 2:47 |
| 12. | "Sick of Drugs" | 4:31 | |
| 13. | "Someone Who Won't Let Me Go" | 3:06 | |
| 14. | "The Revolution Will Be Televised" |
| 4:29 |
| 15. | "Caffeine Bomb" | 2:54 | |
| 16. | "Love U Til I Don't" | 5:26 | |
| 17. | "I Wanna Go Where the People Go" | 5:22 | |
| Total length: | 1:12:54 | ||
Personnel[edit]
|
The Wildhearts
Additional personnel
|
|
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] | 24 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[7] | 51 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC)[7] | 33 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[7] | 8 |
| UK Physical Albums (OCC)[7] | 33 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[7] | 2 |
| UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[7] | 20 |
Bonus Tracks[edit]
People who pre-ordered the album directly from Round Records were sent 30 Year Itch Bonus Tracks, four live tracks not included on the final album.[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Top of the World" | |
| 2. | "Shame on Me" | |
| 3. | "Nothing Ever Changes but the Shoes" | |
| 4. | "My Baby Is a Headfuck" |
References[edit]
- ^ Colothan, Scott (16 January 2019). "The Wildhearts announce May 2019 Renaissance Tour". Planet Rock. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "The Renaissance Men Tour, Part 2". The Wildhearts. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Colothan, Scott (10 June 2019). "The Wildhearts announce October 2019 tour". Planet Rock. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Stephen (13 August 2019). "The Wildhearts Announce New Mini Album 'Diagnosis' And Tour To Coincide". Total Rock. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "The Wildhearts – 30 Year Itch (Live) – Double CD (pre-order)". Round Records. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Lewry, Fraser (22 October 2020). "The Wildhearts to release double live album 30 Year Itch 'while we're still alive'". Classic Rock. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wildhearts songs and albums: full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b Berelian, Essi (4 December 2020). "The Wildhearts' 30 Year Itch is loud, atmospheric and buzzing with furious energy". Classic Rock. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Kidd, Simon (23 November 2020). "The Wildhearts – 30 Year Itch – Album Review". MMH Radio. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Album review: The Wildhearts – 30 Year Itch". Get Ready to Rock!. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
External links[edit]
- 30 Year Itch at Discogs (list of releases)